01 · Oslo
1982
Oslo01 / 06
Gurdial Singh arrives in Norway.
Among the pioneering Indian chefs who helped introduce Indian cuisine to a new generation of Norwegian guests.
Baljits
Baljits Hospitality Group · Oslo
Indian hospitality,
built in Oslo.
Baljits is the founder-led hospitality platform of Baljit Singh Padda — connecting family legacy, Indian culture and modern restaurant concepts across Oslo.
Family hospitality in Norway since 1982✦New Delhi established 1985✦Multiple concepts across Oslo✦Recognised by India · 2025✦Family hospitality in Norway since 1982✦New Delhi established 1985✦Multiple concepts across Oslo✦Recognised by India · 2025✦
Founder · Baljits Hospitality Group · Annapurna laureate
The founder
The operator behind Indian hospitality in Oslo.
Baljit grew up inside hospitality — in kitchens, dining rooms and service rhythms shaped by his father's pioneering work in Oslo. Today, he continues that story through restaurant concepts that connect Indian culture with modern Norwegian hospitality.
The group serves around 5,000 guests every month with a 70-strong team, and in April 2025 New Delhi became the first restaurant in Norway awarded India's Annapurna Certificate of Excellence.
1982
Family in Norway
1985
New Delhi established
2025
Annapurna Certificate
Origins
From Punjab to Oslo.
A family journey from Punjab and Delhi to Oslo became one of Norway's enduring Indian hospitality stories.
The journey
Six moments
that built Baljits.
A short timeline of the family's hospitality story in Norway. The full archive lives on the Heritage page.
02 · Øvre Slottsgate
1985
Øvre Slottsgate02 / 06
New Delhi opens.
New Delhi becomes part of Oslo's Indian restaurant story. A young Baljit grows up inside the room — kitchen, floor, service rhythm.
03 · Tjuvholmen
2018
Tjuvholmen03 / 06
New Delhi at the waterfront.
The flagship enters its Tjuvholmen chapter — connecting family legacy to one of Oslo's most premium waterfront locations.
04 · Behind Stortinget
2021
Behind Stortinget04 / 06
Masala Politics opens.
A concept built around Indian food, culture, politics and conversation — central Oslo, behind the Norwegian Parliament.
05 · Oslo
2024
Oslo05 / 06
Barish opens.
A new bar/restaurant expression — Indian-rooted cocktail culture, modern Indian hospitality after dark.
06 · ICCR · New Delhi
2025
ICCR · New Delhi06 / 06
Annapurna Certificate.
Selected as part of the 2024 Annapurna Certificate cohort and presented in New Delhi on 9 April 2025 by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
Chapter 02 — Concepts with a point of view
Concepts with
a point of view.
Each room is built around a single, deliberate idea. Active venues sit alongside one legacy concept created by Baljit and later passed on.
Active concepts
Legacy concept
ArchiveCreated by Baljit in 2018 and later passed on to new ownership. An important chapter in the Baljit story.
Legacy · Created by Baljit
Listen to Baljit
A personal, modern, street-food-inspired Indian concept created by Baljit in 2018 — later passed on to new ownership. Awarded Terningkast 5 by VG · Godt.no.
Created 2018 · Now under new ownership
The flagship
New Delhi at Tjuvholmen.
The family's first room opened in Øvre Slottsgate in 1985 and moved to the Tjuvholmen waterfront in 2018. Today it remains the flagship of the group.
"The vision of Gurdial Singh, who set a new standard for Indian food back then, is the premise for everything we do — also in the future. Almost everything is new. But you will recognise it. It is called the taste of New Delhi."
The group
Beyond restaurants.
A hospitality house built in Oslo.
Baljits Hospitality Group operates a portfolio of Indian dining concepts in Oslo and works selectively with landlords, hotels and cultural partners on long-term projects.
Discuss a partnership- 01
Restaurant Development
Concept, brand, build.
- 02
Hospitality Consulting
For hotels and operators.
- 03
Property & Hospitality Partnerships
Long-horizon, with the right partner.
Recognition
Recognition built
over four decades.
A short, sourced record of the rooms, the reviews and the recognitions along the way.
- 1982
Gurdial Singh arrives in Norway — among the pioneers of Indian cuisine in the country.
Family record - 1985
New Delhi opens in Øvre Slottsgate.
Restaurant archive - 2018
New Delhi reopens at Tjuvholmen — international brigade.
Aftenposten · Vink - 2018
Listen to Baljit created — a personal, modern Indian concept (later passed on).
VG · Godt.no - 2020–2021
Kitchens stayed open through the pandemic — meals for healthcare workers.
Vårt Oslo - 2021
Masala Politics opens behind Stortinget.
Finansavisen · Lørdag - 2024
Barish — an Indian-rooted cocktail and bar concept opens in Oslo.
Vårt Oslo · Avisa Oslo - 2025
Annapurna Certificate presented to New Delhi at ICCR, New Delhi — 9 April 2025.
Indian Council for Cultural Relations
Govt. of IndiaAnnapurnaCertificate
Recognition · 2025
Recognised
by India.
ICCR · New Delhi · 9 April 2025
In 2025, New Delhi received the Annapurna Certificate — an international recognition for restaurants promoting Indian cuisine and culture abroad.
Selected in the 2024 cohort and presented in New Delhi on 9 April 2025 by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. First Norwegian restaurant to receive the recognition.
Lifetime-validity plaque presented by Mrs. K. Nandini Singla, Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
2025
Presented in New Delhi on 9 April 2025 by the ICCR.
40+
Years of Indian hospitality in Norway, formally acknowledged by India.
ICCR
A recognition reserved for restaurants nominated through Indian embassies.
The international cohort
Awarded internationally to a small group of restaurants nominated by Indian embassies and selected by an ICCR-appointed jury. New Delhi was recognised in the cohort that included rooms from several countries.
- KuwaitSaravanaa Bhavan
- MauritiusJains Little India
- USARasika West End
- United KingdomAsha's
- NorwayNew Delhi Restaurant
“New Delhi Restaurant serves dishes from across regional India, developed by a team that puts the culinary experience at the centre — recognised by media and guests as one of Oslo's leading Indian restaurants.”
“My father came to Norway in 1982. For more than four decades we have worked to share India's culinary heritage with this country. This recognition belongs to every person who has stood in our kitchens and dining rooms.”
“For the long-standing contribution to the propagation of Indian cuisine and hospitality abroad.”
In print
Press, recognition and public moments.
In their words
What the press has actually written.
Curated pull-quotes from VG, Aftenposten, DN, Finansavisen and other outlets — each tagged to the specific accomplishment it documents.
VG · Godt.no2019
“Ypperlig indisk.”
References
Terningkast 5 for Listen to Baljit — Baljit's personal modern-Indian concept.
Read the pieceAftenposten · Vink2021
“Det indiske kjøkken er en gavepakke.”
References
Masala Politics recognised for the regional breadth of Indian cooking in Oslo.
Read the pieceDagens Næringsliv2019
“Listen to Baljit serverer en annen indisk mat enn Norge er vant til.”
References
DN on Baljit redefining what Indian fine dining looks like in Norway.
Read the pieceFinansavisen · Lørdag2021
“Vil bli ny restaurantkonge. Midt i corona.”
References
Saturday business feature on opening Masala Politics mid-pandemic — a third Oslo restaurant.
Read the pieceDinnerbooking2022
“Familien som lærte Norge å elske indisk mat.”
References
On the Singh family's 40-year role introducing Indian cuisine to Norwegian dining.
Read the pieceNettavisen2025
“India gir ut pris til den norske restauranten New Dehli.”
References
Norwegian coverage of the Annapurna Certificate of Excellence from the Government of India.
Read the pieceThe Tribune · India2024
“Punjab-born restaurateur making waves in Norway.”
References
International recognition of Baljit as a Punjabi diaspora restaurateur abroad.
Read the pieceVårtOslo2023
“Mannen bak flere av byens fremste indiske restauranter.”
References
Portrait of Baljit as the operator behind several of Oslo's leading Indian rooms.
Read the pieceReviews2019
Ypperlig indisk — Terningkast 5
Listen to Baljit reviewed as colourful, well-executed modern Indian cooking.
VG · Godt.noRead the piece
Reviews2021
Det indiske kjøkken er en gavepakke
Masala Politics reviewed for regional Indian cooking and a confident point of view.
Aftenposten · VinkRead the piece
Business2021
Vil bli ny restaurantkonge. Midt i corona.
Saturday feature on Baljit opening Masala Politics during the pandemic.
FinansavisenRead the piece
Legacy2022
Familien som lærte Norge å elske indisk mat
On the Singh family's role in introducing Indian cuisine to Norway.
DinnerbookingRead the piece
Legacy2024
Punjab-born restaurateur making waves in Norway
International feature on the family's Punjab-to-Norway story.
Tribune IndiaRead the piece
Partnerships
For spaces
that deserve a destination.
Baljit has built concepts in leading property environments such as Tjuvholmen. We work with property owners, hotels, cultural institutions and event clients on long-term hospitality projects — with experience drawn from four decades of family-run Indian hospitality in Oslo.
- 01
Property owners
Restaurants that turn spaces into destinations. Experience with property-led hospitality environments in Oslo.
Start an inquiry - 02
Hotels
Indian F&B concepts, bar programmes, private dining and cultural hospitality for hotel partners.
Start an inquiry - 03
Corporate & private clients
Premium catering, delegation dinners, private events and culturally rooted experiences.
Start an inquiry - 04
Expansion partners
Selective new rooms, licensing and long-term hospitality partnerships.
Start an inquiry